Best L-Citrulline (2026): Ranked by Cost Per Actual Gram
For blood pressure or workouts, buy Nutricost Pure L-Citrulline: pure citrulline, $0.33 for 6 g at the brand’s price. It ties for our top score. Need a product tested for banned substances? Kaged is.
By Erin Rose Updated October 19, 2026 How we score
Costs are brand prices for 6 g of actual citrulline, checked October 19, 2026. Amazon’s price can differ.
Our pick for: Most people
- Citrulline a scoop
- 3 gPure, so every gram counts
- 6 g a day
- 2 scoops$0.33 at the brand’s price
- Testing
- Brand claimSays third-party tested; names no lab
- Tub price
- $32.97List price for 600 g (200 scoops)
Why we pick it It is pure L-citrulline, so every gram on the label is citrulline. BulkSupplements pure costs about the same, and either is a good buy. Most readers who click to buy choose it.
What you give up It is not on a public testing list. Kaged is, for about 1.8 times the cost.
Which L-citrulline is right for you?
Citrulline is one molecule, so what you pay for is grams of it. We price every product by the grams of citrulline it gives, not the grams of powder.
Get drug-tested for sport?
Kaged L-Citrulline is on Informed Sport, which tests for substances banned in sport. A scoop is 2 g, so 6 g takes 3 scoops and costs $0.60 at the brand’s price.
Kaged L-Citrulline
7.5/10 · $0.60 for 6 g · Informed Sport
Want the lowest cost per gram?
This citrulline malate label states 2 g of citrulline in each 3 g scoop. 6 g takes 3 scoops (9 g of powder) and costs $0.31, 2 cents less than our pick.
BulkSupplements Citrulline Malate 2:1
7.0/10 · $0.31 for 6 g · 2 g citrulline in 3 g
Hate powder?
BulkSupplements capsules give 3 g in 8 capsules, so 6 g takes 16. That costs $1.53, about 5 times the powder.
BulkSupplements L-Citrulline Capsules
6.5/10 · $1.53 for 6 g · 8 capsules = 3 g
Take nitrates or ED drugs?
Don’t take citrulline unless your doctor says yes. With nitrates for the heart or ED drugs (for erections) like sildenafil, blood pressure may drop too far (WebMD).
L-citrulline we compared
Ranked by score. Cost is 2 of the 10 points, so the cheapest is not always first. Costs are for 6 g of actual citrulline at each brand’s own price. We also priced 3 more that cost $0.97 to $2.20 for 6 g; they are in our free data file.
| L-citrulline | 6 g | Why it is or is not a pick |
|---|---|---|
| Nutricost Pure L-Citrulline8.5/10 | $0.33 | Our pick: pure, 3 g a scoop |
| BulkSupplements L-Citrulline8.5/10 | $0.33 | Pure, 3 g a scoop; same cost as our pick |
| Kaged L-Citrulline7.5/10 | $0.60 | Pure, on Informed Sport; 2 g a scoop |
| BulkSupplements Citrulline Malate 2:17.0/10 | $0.31 | Malate; label states 2 g citrulline in 3 g; cheapest per gram |
| BulkSupplements Citrulline Malate 1:17.0/10 | $0.38 | Malate 1:1; label states 1.7 g citrulline in 3 g |
| BulkSupplements L-Citrulline Capsules6.5/10 | $1.53 | Pure, but 16 capsules for 6 g |
| Nutricost Citrulline Malate 2:16.0/10 | $0.47 | Malate; label gives no citrulline split, so we count the most a 2:1 can hold |
| Micro Ingredients L-Citrulline CapsulesNot scored | No brand price | Pure capsules. No brand price, so we did not score it |
How to read an L-citrulline label
Look at the Supplement Facts panel, not the product name. If it lists only L-citrulline, the grams it lists are citrulline. “Citrulline malate 2:1” means citrulline mixed with malic acid; at best about 72% is citrulline, and when a lab tested five UK powders labeled 2:1, only one came close to its label (Chappell 2018). If the label gives grams of citrulline, use that number.
Does L-citrulline work?
The effects are small. One review found the top blood pressure number fell about 4 points (Barkhidarian 2019); another found no effect (Mirenayat 2018). Before a workout, 6 to 8 g of citrulline malate gave about 3 more reps (Vårvik 2021). In older adults the results were small and mixed. More in our L-citrulline guide.
Questions people ask
Is pure L-citrulline better than citrulline malate?
They are the same citrulline. Pure powder is all citrulline, so the label grams are what you get. Malate is citrulline mixed with malic acid, so you need more powder for the same dose. How much of a malate scoop is citrulline.
How much L-citrulline should I take?
Many studies used 3 to 6 g of pure L-citrulline a day. Exercise trials used 6 to 8 g of citrulline malate before a workout. Dosage guide.
Is L-citrulline safe?
WebMD lists no known side effects; in trials the most common was an upset stomach. WebMD says not to take it with nitrates or ED drugs like sildenafil, because blood pressure may drop too far, and not to use it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Taking blood pressure medicine? Ask your doctor first.
How we score
Five marks: does a serving hold at least 3 g of citrulline, the low end of the studied range; is the product on a public testing list; what 6 g of citrulline costs at the brand’s own price against the cheapest; does the label state the amount; and the brand’s FDA recall record. Dose and testing are worth up to 3 points each, cost up to 2, label and recalls up to 1 each, for 10 in all. More on our method.
Sources
- Barkhidarian B, et al. “Effects of L-citrulline supplementation on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.” Avicenna J Phytomed. 2019. PubMed 30788274
- Mirenayat MS, et al. “Effect of L-Citrulline Supplementation on Blood Pressure: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials.” Curr Hypertens Rep. 2018. PubMed 30284051
- Vårvik FT, et al. “Acute Effect of Citrulline Malate on Repetition Performance During Strength Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2021. PubMed 34010809
- Chappell AJ, et al. “Citrulline malate supplementation does not improve German Volume Training performance or reduce muscle soreness in moderately trained males and females.” J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2018. PubMed 30097067
- WebMD. “L-citrulline.” Medically reviewed August 14, 2025. webmd.com
- Testing list: Informed Sport. Citrulline per serving, prices and labels from each brand’s own page.